Former Parkside coach set for first year with UMES

Former Parkside baseball coach Brian Hollamon talks about his new job at UMES.

Produced by Ralph Musthaler

For the past 20 years, February has been a busy month for Brian Hollamon.

Having coached baseball every season since earning his master’s degree from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 1999, where he served as an assistant coach, Hollamon’s start to the new year traditionally entails game planning, roster management and hours of practice.

UMES baseball coach Brian Hollamon poses for a photo at their athletic field on Wednesday, Aug. 23, ...more

UMES baseball coach Brian Hollamon poses for a photo at their athletic field on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2017.

Staff photo by Ralph Musthaler

In recent history, Hollamon called the plays for the Parkside Rams, leading the high school squad to 14 straight winning seasons and two appearances in the MPSSAA 2A State Championship. He was also named the Bayside South Coach of the Year in 2006, 2008 and 2011.

But February 2018 marks a different feeling for the longtime coach.

In August 2017, Hollamon was named the new head coach for the UMES baseball team, returning the Delaware native to the Division I stage.

In his introductory news conference, Hollamon said he was excited to get started and help rebuild a Hawks’ program that has struggled in recent years.

With the season right around the corner, Hollamon said it's time to reestablish UMES as a strong force throughout the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

“Year 1, we’re trying to set a precedence for what we’re going to do years two, three, four and so on,” Hollamon said. “One of the toughest things about Division I baseball is you can’t just bring people in just on a whim. Right now, we’re pretty slim. We’ve got guys who are hurt, some guys who left prior to the year ... but the guys we have, we really like.”

The Hawks finished last season with a 12-40 overall record, but made an appearance in the MEAC Tournament.

However, the Hawks made an early exit in the playoffs, resulting in the departure of former coach Charlie Goens.

Maryland Eastern Shore's Toby Hoskins on the mound against North Carolina A&T during the ...more

Maryland Eastern Shore's Toby Hoskins on the mound against North Carolina A&T during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury.

Staff Photo by Megan Raymond

With ties to the university and a successful high school coaching resume under his belt, Hollamon became the top candidate for the job, and he says he's still filled with excitement to be back with the program that gave him his start.

“I’m anxious to see our guys perform,” Hollamon said. “Last year, from the outside, I was able to watch the guys play, but it wasn’t as their coach. Now I get to see them on the field, against another opponent and see how they stack up.”

Although Hollamon inherited a roster that was already in place rather than one he personally assembled, the former Parkside coach is pleased with the number of weapons in his arsenal.

Despite losing some key players to graduation — including pitcher Zach Mills and outfielder Justin Somerville — Hollamon said the current Hawks’ squad is still stacked, with athletes like Ryan Rotondo, Joey Nicastro, Jamison Trower, Toby Hoskins and Tyler Friis all expected to return.

“Those are guys that will make some impact for sure,” Hollamon said. “There’s a lot of guys on the team that have some ability, and if we can hone it in and get it where it needs to be, we’re going to be just fine.”

One of Hollamon’s primary areas of focus in the past six months has been building relationships with players he had only interacted with from an outsider’s perspective.

The Hawks' coach said bringing in new coaches, introducing a different system and setting higher standards took time meant UMES players needed some time to adjust.

But with the season officially kicking off Friday, Hollamon believes he’s helped create a solid bond between coach and athlete.

Maryland Eastern Shore's Ryan Rotondo with the hit against North Carolina A&T during the ...more

Maryland Eastern Shore's Ryan Rotondo with the hit against North Carolina A&T during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury.

Staff Photo by Megan Raymond

“I feel good with all the guys,” Hollamon said. “You’ve got to set an expectation. I’m going to push guys. I’m not going to just sit back and say, ‘What you’re giving me is good enough.’ I’m going to strive to push them as hard as I can push them. I want them to understand this isn’t just about being the best baseball player — it’s pushing them to be the best human being.”

UMES will start its season with a seven-game road trip, making stops in Tennessee and South Carolina before returning to the Shore on Feb. 27.

As a new Division I coach, Hollamon said he’s excited to play against some big-name schools — including Duke, Pittsburgh, Austin Peay and George Washington — but he’s more focused on conference opponents. The Hawks finished with 15 losses in MEAC play in 2017.

“Obviously, we want to beat everybody that we play,” Hollamon said. “I’m excited to play our in-conference teams and see where we stack up within our conference. What we do outside of conference is kind of like icing on the cake.”

But the main thing Hollamon will be preaching this season is stability, saying he hopes the days of change are in the past.

Maryland Eastern Shore's Isaiah Chambers catches a pop-up against North Carolina A&T during the ...more

Maryland Eastern Shore's Isaiah Chambers catches a pop-up against North Carolina A&T during the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Championships on Wednesday, May 17, 2017 at Perdue Stadium in Salisbury.

Staff Photo by Megan Raymond

Knowing it will take time to transform the Hawks into a powerhouse in the conference, the new UMES coach remains confident his team is on the rise.

As he prepares for his first season on a Division I diamond since the turn of the century, Hollamon said it’s just another year, noting that no matter where his coaching career takes him, baseball will always be baseball.

“We’d like to win a good amount of games, but at the end of the day, I don’t think that’s going to be the defining piece of whether we’re successful or not,” Hollamon said.

“We’ve got 10 seniors … I think at the end of the year, we want to get guys saying, ‘I really enjoyed playing here my senior year.’ For the guys who are young, I’m hoping they look at the season and say, ‘This is where I want to be for the rest of my college career.’”